At ARC, there are multiple different Adult Resource Centers where participants can go based on where they live. Sometimes, a participant can go to more than one center, and sometimes participants get shifted around when they move homes. This week, I got to see participants that I have met before, but in different locations.

I started my week off at the ASPIRE program as per usual. However, this day was a particularly exciting day because a new participant was joining the group from a different location. This participant was actually one of the first few people that I had met after starting this internship. She is typically quiet, but the first day we met we got to talking about our families and her upcoming vacation that she was excited for. Starting your first day somewhere new can be scary for anyone. Personally, I struggle with anxiety over finding my own groove in a new environment with new people. Yet, this participant was amazing! She settled in rather quickly, and even had a few recommendations about how we should spend our day. Throughout the day, I stuck with her as we went to Walmart, Target, and Ohio Thrift. While we were together, we caught up about her recent move, her family, and my family as well.

All of the participants I have had the pleasure to meet have been extremely nice to me, however there is one participant in the ASPIRE program in particular who has a heart of gold. While we were at Walmart, she bought some of her groceries for the week, and of course she stocked up on some sweets as well. When we got back to the site to eat lunch, she came up to me and handed me a prepackaged slice of cinnamon crunch coffee cake. At first, I tried to politely decline her offer. I didn’t want to take something that she had spent her own money on. She looked at me and said, “I got this for you!”, so I accepted her offer and thanked her. I realize this was a small gift of a $1 treat, but my heart was warmed by her thoughtfulness and generosity. Later in the day, I was informed that this type of act wasn’t out of the ordinary for this participant. She liked to give things like treats or mints or candy to people, but I was grateful that I was now part of the in-group that she trusted and liked enough to bring into this routine.

Later in the week, I went to ARC West, which is located right off of Ohio State campus. At ARC West, there are multiple different classrooms where participants are divided up into groups such that they are with generally the same people each day. This is one of my favorite buildings to be in, as it used to be known as the “artsy center”. There is participant-made art that lines the hallways and hangs from the ceilings. It is truly one of the prettiest buildings I have worked in. I had previously been to this center, but it had been a little while so I wasn’t sure how many people would remember me. As I went classroom to classroom, I was greeted with hugs, handshakes, and familiar faces who did. There was actually one participant who has an amazing memory that remembered pretty much everything about my life that I had told him!

Yet again, I had an amazing week at work. Typically, going to the ASPIRE program is one of my favorite days, since I get to see the same people each week and continue to develop the relationships that I have already established. As I continue to go back to the other sites I have visited, I am finding that the participants remember me, and furthermore, are excited to see me! This week was a good week. It makes me more excited to continue to travel to the other sites and build upon my relationships with other people.